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09/07 21:50 CDT Rangers rally from a pair of 2-run deficits to beat the Angels
6-4
Rangers rally from a pair of 2-run deficits to beat the Angels 6-4
By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Baseball Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) --- Josh Smith put Texas ahead for the first time with a
two-run single in the seventh inning and the Rangers overcame a pair of two-run
deficits to beat the Los Angeles Angels 6-4 on Saturday night.
Smith's sharp liner to right field capped a three-run outburst that made it
5-4, immediately following Marcus Semien's RBI single that came after a
5-for-39 stretch for the Texas leadoff hitter. Victor Mederos (0-1) had just
walked the Nos. 8 and 9 batters with two outs --- with ball four on the first
free pass coming on a pitch-clock violation.
Jose Leclerc (6-4) retired the only two batters he faced in the seventh.
All-Star closer Kirby Yates worked the ninth for his 28th save in 29 chances.
"At this point in the season, just to show that fight kind of shows what
everybody's made up a little bit," Smith said.
While the reigning World Series champion Rangers (69-74) are essentially out of
playoff contention, they won for the ninth time in 12 games --- their best such
stretch this season. They are still 8 1/2 games behind AL West-leading Houston
and 7 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot with 19 to play.
"We know where we're at, and so it's up to us to keep going out there and
playing hard, trying to win ballgames," manager Bruce Bochy said after the
Rangers' 32nd comeback win this season.
With the Globe Life Park roof open for the first time since May 17, Taylor Ward
led of the game with his 22nd homer, which just cleared the 8-foot wall in left
to extend his on-base streak to 17 games. No. 2 batter Zach Neto was hit by a
pitch before Rangers rookie starter Jack Leiter retired 15 of the next 17
batters, including Anthony Rendon on a sacrifice fly that plated Neto for a 2-0
lead.
Leiter had a career-best six strikeouts in his sixth start. The 24-year-old
right-hander, the second pick in the 2021 amateur draft, made his third
consecutive start in the Rangers' rotation.
Angels starter Tyler Anderson struck out seven and allowed only one hit while
throwing 92 pitches in five innings. The lone hit came when Ezequiel Duran
lined a two-run double deep into the left-center gap with one out in the fifth
after an error by Rendon at third base and a walk.
"It all started when we didn't catch that one groundball, and then (Anderson)
sort of lost it a little bit," Angels manager Ron Washington said. "But, you
know, he put it back together. He left the game with a tie ballgame. I'd take
that any time after five, and then we came back and took the lead, but then we
couldn't hold onto it."
Neto scored from second base on a wild pitch in the sixth after Leiter walked
him to start the inning and was pulled from the game. Andrew Chafin's 90 mph
sinker on a full count to Nolan Schanuel bounced and ricocheted hard off
catcher Jonah Heim toward the Texas dugout. Mickey Moniak's RBI single made it
4-2.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Angels: Los Angeles outfielders Jo Adell (left oblique strain) and Kevin Pillar
(left thumb sprain) were placed on the 10-day injured list. OF Jordyn Adams and
Bryce Teodosio were brought up from Triple-A Salt Lake, and Teodosio made his
big league debut playing center field.
Rangers: Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom (elbow surgery) struck out
five without a walk and allowed one hit over four innings for Double-A Frisco
in his fourth and likely final rehab start. His next start could be for the
Rangers, which would be his first in the majors since April 28, 2023. ...
Three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer (right shoulder fatigue and nerve
issue) was making a rehab start later Saturday night for Triple-A Round Rock in
Las Vegas. His last big league start was July 30.
UP NEXT
Angels: RHP Caden Dana (1-0) makes his second major league start Sunday, one
week after the 20-year-old became the youngest pitcher in franchise history to
win his debut. He struck out four and allowed two earned runs in six innings
against Seattle.
Rangers: LHP Andrew Heaney (4-13) is winless in his last three starts despite
allowing only one run over 15 innings.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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